Hi Everyone

My 4 month old Westie 'Mitzi' is currently on Dry food (Nutro Choice).  This is what our Breeder brought her up on and we have no problems with this food.  Now she is getting a little older she is not eating all the food as before and tends just to pick at her food at all different times.

She has 2 - 3 meals a day but I am wondering if it is a good idea to rotate her food maybe by giving her to option of a tin food as well as her Nutro Choice.  Im not sure if the tined food is as good as the dry food?

Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Suzie

I dont like tinned food myself, as Im too stingy to pay for the high water content :D Dont let your pup try it on, some can be very picky to see what else you produce. Give her her food at the set times she's used to and take uneaten food away after 20 minutes. Your breeder can advise on any supplements youre thinking about or about changing flavour eg Nutro Choice Chicken or Lamb
(if thats applicable). If you pour a little hot water onto complete it releases the oils to make it more appetising.

I'm very wary of tinned food. My dogs are fed on dry complete. They get the odd treat thrown in now and again...pilchards in tomato sauce, roast chicken, turkey mince, fish etc Certain people will wail but you don't need extras if you feed complete.....so shoot me for allowing my dogs a meal they thoroughly enjoy :D
Because my breed are at risk of bloat and it has popped up in one of my boys lines, they have fresh food to graze on 24/7 . There is no food aggression in our house, no wolfing down meals. They still appreciate a treat and know who the Boss is and who controls the food.

Hi there

Thanks very much to both of your advise....I think I will keep Mitzi on the complete food and I will try mixing with hot water..also I like the idea of throwin in a few treats i.e. the pilchards and fish etc I no she will love that one.

Thanks again

Suzie

Hi Suzie, I had a similar issue with my boys when I was feeding them Nutro-they just seemed to stop enjoying it and would be less than keen to finish it.  I started introducing Naturdiet to their meals (reducing the amount of dried if necessary) in addition to the Nutro, just enough to give them a taste and it soon became a case of clean empty bowls within seconds :)  Incidently, I have now changed their dried food to Burns, and I would too be wary about pandering to any food issues with your pup-they soon learn that if they don't eat, something tastier will come along soon behind it! :)

Naturediet seems to be the thing to feed poor-doer's,the majority of dogs love it,it's a good food and you can mix it in with the kibble :)

maybe shes needing less food now shes abit older?
put her back to two meals aday if shes getting more,& pick it up,if she dosent finish it. mine get half a hour,
im really impreessed by nutro.
after feeding natural for 4 years,i switched to burns & ND,but find nutro suits my dogs better. they are VERY fussy

We have always fed a mixture of tinned and complete dry with vegetables with no problem, it can't be nice to have to eat the same thing everyday IMO

Thanks very much for all your advice think I will stick to the dry food but maybe try Nutro and added a few tips on what all of you have
said....

Ta very much

Suzie.

Hi Suzie
Just a thought have you checked that your puppy is not losing her puppy teeth and gaining her adult ones, As I find this to be the case at this age, If she is losing teeth, Just soak her normal diet with water and make it easier for her to eat.

I feed my westie on nature diet as he went off dry food. I firstly switched to caesar but was really watery then changed to nature diet which he loves and it comes in a lot of flavours to change with. I noticed a real change in his coat aswell its really shiny!!

I think I will try the Nature diet as a lot of people have recomended this ...I will try her on that and see how we go...I never thought to check if her puppy teeth have fallen out as well....

My breeder also recomended that half a teaspoon of cod liver oil in her dinner is another good one for her coat ...

will keep you posted

Thanks again

Suzie

I'm very wary of dry food, very unnatural texture for a start. It would be like us eating Weetabix without milk.   Or dry toast.   I am also very wary of some tinned foods.   If I were to feed commercial food I would opt for at least part Nature Diet.   I also think a lot of dogs can get very bored with the same old food day in day out.   Not all dogs but some at least.  By feeding variety you are more likely to ensure balance and over/under nutrient levels over time.  No single dog food is going to suit all dogs all of the time.   Look for foods that contain absolutely no artificial colour or caramel, and as few or no chemical preservatives as possible.

Wendy

Hi there

Should I combine the dry food maybe in the morning and then feed Mitzi the Nature Diet in the evening?

She will eat the dry food but only now if its mixed with something else....I will buy her the Nature and see how she goes but do you recommend that I totally stop the dry or gradually introduce Nature.

Sorry if Im a bit unsure but I do want to get this right.

Thanks again to all of you who have responded.

Suzie

It would be fine to mix the Nature Diet with the Nutro Dry Food if this is what suits you.

Wendy